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Changes to the law brought in next
year will mean officers cannot give out a second caution for a similar
offence within two years.

Only in exceptional circumstances will it be allowed - and must be signed off by an officer of Inspector rank.

Magistrates and victims groups will
also be given new powers to inspect how forces give out cautions to make
sure they are not used excessively.

Soft touch no more: Police officers will be stopped from routinely giving offenders a second caution for similar offences within two years

The decision follow a major review of
cautioning conducted by the Ministry of Justice. Also under review are
spot fines and cannabis warnings.

Earlier this year Mr Grayling warned
spot fines had allowed gangs of yobs to commit crime and anti-social
behaviour ‘regardless of the consequences’.

He said thugs even put aside cash to
pay the penalty notices, then carry on offending, and claimed high
streets have become ‘fair game’ for low level offenders who make life a
misery for the public.

Lynne Owens, of the Association of
Chief Police Officers, said: ‘It is in everyone’s interests that the
justice system is as simple and clear to understand as possible.

'The current range of out of court disposals is too complicated and bureaucratic - we recommended and support its review.

‘It is important that there is room
for officer discretion in any system to ensure the punishment is
proportionate to the offence.

Criminal justice minister Damian
Green said: ‘The current police guidance for dealing with crimes
on-the-spot has evolved over time and is totally disjointed, no wonder
we see a dramatic variation in their use.

‘That is why we are clamping down on
the use of cautions and reviewing the whole spectrum of out of court
disposals so we have clarity and consistency and most importantly we
have a system that victims and the public have confidence in.’

The review of all out of court disposals is set to conclude in spring 2014.